Snow falls on county; some schools to close

Snow blanketed Clark County on Sunday, providing recreation for some and traffic headaches for others, while the potential for freezing rain today prompted school districts to cancel or delay classes.

The forecast called for freezing rain overnight Sunday and this morning, and the National Weather Service warned that even major highways will remain slick during the morning commute.

The Evergreen Public Schools district and most other local districts decided Sunday that they would cancel school Monday, while a few districts, including Vancouver Public Schools, opted for two-hour delays (for details, see the schools-closure list with this story). Some districts that announced delays said they might consider full closures come Monday morning, however.

In many parts of the county, including Vancouver, Battle Ground and Salmon Creek, an inch of snow was recorded, according to the weather service. The snow rolled in at about 7 a.m., and most of the snowfall was done by about 10 a.m.

The winter weather created some unexpected fun for many people across the county, who likely awoke to snow flurries.

Families played in the snow at Wy’East Community Park in east Vancouver. Outside of Hough Elementary School on the west side of town, a man used his bicycle to tow a small child on a sled. A driver on an all-terrain vehicle took to the streets in Vancouver’s Cascade Park area.

By Sunday afternoon, a visit to some libraries was out of the question. The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District closed early, at 3 p.m., at its downtown Vancouver library and the branch at the Vancouver mall.

The weather also created challenging driving conditions across the county. As of about 5 p.m. Washington State Patrol received more than 50 reports of vehicles in trouble after the snow began to fall, Trooper Will Finn said. Calls included spin-outs, vehicles that had crashed into barriers, and instances in which stuck drivers simply abandoned their cars, he said.

At one point, WSP was so overwhelmed with calls — many on state Highway 14 — that they sent local police agencies to traffic problems in north Clark County, Finn said.

Even after 5 p.m., reports of minor vehicle crashes continued to come in, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

With freezing rain in the forecast, WSP asked motorists to be prepared before hitting the roads. Preparations include clearing off all windows of frost and snow before driving, using a good set of windshield wipers and properly inflated tires, and being patient while driving on snow and ice.

“Remember to slow down, increase your following distance and give yourself additional time to get to your destination,” Finn said. “Snow- and ice-covered roads greatly decrease your ability to slow and stop your vehicle, so be prepared.”

He also suggested that motorists anticipate delays, especially if traveling over mountain passes. “Stock your car with basic winter driving equipment: a scraper, shovel, jumper cables or jump pack, tow chain or rope, and traction devices,” Finn said, and any medications or other necessities one might need.

Finn considered it a good thing that Sunday’s snowfall didn’t happen on a weekday, when more drivers are on the road. He asked that commuters check the forecast today, and consider staying home if roads are slick.

“If you are able to stay home … do it,” he said. “Stay home and stay safe.”

Road condition updates are available on the Washington State Department of Transportation’s website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic, or by calling 1-800-695-ROAD.